Question

Find the shortest side of a triangle whose perimeter is 64 if the ratio of two of its sides is 4:3 and the third side is 20 less than the sum if the other two

Answer 1

Answer:

The shortest side of the triangle is 18

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the sides the triangle be x, y and z.

From the question, the perimeter of the rectangle is 64, that is

x + y + z = 64 ...... (1)

Also, the ratio of two of its sides is 4:3, that is x:y = 4:3, then we can write that x/y = 4/3 ⇒ 3x = 4y ...... (2)

The third side, z, is 20 less than the sum of the other two, that is

z + 20 = x + y ...... (3)

Substitute equation (3) into (1)

Then,

z + 20 + z = 64

2z +20 = 64

2z = 64 - 20

2z = 44

z = 44/2 k

z = 22

From equation (3)

z + 20 = x + y

Then, k

22 + 20 = x +y

42 = x + y

x = 42 - y ...... (4)

Substitute this into equation 2

3x = 4y

3(42-y) = 4y

126 - 3y = 4y

4y + 3y = 126

7y = 126

y = 126/7

y = 18

Substitute this into equation (4)

x = 42 - y

x = 42 - 18

x = 24

∴ x = 24, y = 18 and z = 22

Hence, the shortest side of the triangle is 18.